Amusement device



L. ROZIGER Get 7 1924.

AMUSEMENT DEVICE Filed Dec. 17 1921 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 uvemtoz abhor/mug v Patented Oct. 7, 1924.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

AMUSEMENT DEVICE.

Application filed December 17, 1921.

T 0 all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, L 0 RozIeER, a citizen of Austria, and resident of the city of New York, in the county of Queens and State of New York, have inventedcertain new and useful Improvements in Amusement Devices, of which the following is a specification.

The present invention relates to improvements in amusement devices of a type which is set up in amusement parks or similar places.

The main object of the invention is toprovide a contrivance of the type mentioned, which is simple in construction, durable in use and which furnishes a cheerful diversion to the user.

Another object of the invention is to produce an amusement device, in the form of a chute, which is given a rotary movement around a vertical axis, the rotary movement being imparted to the chute by the weight of the body of the user.

With these and other objects in view, which will more fully appear as the nature of the invention is better understood, the same consists in the combination, arrangement and construction of parts hereinafter described, pointed out in the appended claims and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, it being understood that many changes may be made in the size and proportion of the several parts and details of construction within the scope of the appended claims, without departing from the spirit or sacrificing any of the advantages of the invention.

One of the many possible embodiments of the invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 is a front elevation, partly in section, of an amusement device constructed in accordance with the present invention;

Fig. 2 is a central vertical section takenv through the upper portion of the device, on a larger scale; and Fig. 3 is a section taken on line 33 of Fig. 2.

The device comprises a base 10 of any suitable construction, and in this base is formed an inverted, substantially cone-shaped pit 11, to the apex of which access may be had through a tunnel 12. From the center of the pit rises a considerable distance above the base a newel 13, into which are set the steps of a winding stair 14. These steps lead to a platform 15, fixed to the newel.

Serial No. 523, 094.

The upper end of the newel is reduced 111 diameter, as shown at 16, the free end of the reduced portion fitting into a support 17. which is carried by inclined standards 18, the latter rising from the base 10 of the device. A substantial distance above the platform 15, the newel is provided with a step bearing 19, on which rests a cylindrical body 20. the latter being rotatably mounted on the reduced portion 16 of the newel. Above the cylindrical body 20 the newel carries a thrust bearing 21, co-operating with said cylindrical body. The body 20 is provided with radial arms 22, from which depends a railing 23 for the platform 15. With the body 20 are furthermore rigidly connected bearings 24, in which is rotatably mounted an inclined shaft 25, which extends from the cylindrical body 20 to the edge of the pit 11, where it carries a roller 26, the latter running on a circular track 27 which is formed around the said pit. A chute 28, in the form of a worm or helix, is fixedly attached to the shaft 25, said chute extending from the plane of the platform 15 down to the pit 11. The chute, which is in the form of a trough, is covered by wire netting 29, to prevent possible accidents, as will hereinafter appear.

The railing 23 is provided with an extension 30, which surrounds the inlet to the chute. To the railing 23 is attached an inclined slide 31. slanting toward the chute, and also a sm'all platform 32. which is disposed above the platform 15.

The operation of-this device is as follows: The person enters the pit 11 through the tunnel 12, ascends the stair 14 and steps onto the platform 15. Mounting then the slide 31, the person arrives in the chute 28, sliding down the latter to the pit 11. While moving in the chute, the weight of the body of the person imparts rotation of the shaft 25, to which the said chute is fixedly attached. As this shaft rotates, the chute is caused to move bodily around the newel 13,

the roller 26 revolving 'on the track 27. From this it appears that the person, in sliding down the chute, not only moves in a helical line around the shaft 25, but is also bodily carried in a circle or part of a circle around the pit 11. From the chute the per son slides into the pit 11 down to the apex of the latter, and may then again ascend the stair or leave through the tunnel 12. lit is obvious that a person is discharged into the pit only when'the exit opening of the chute overhangs the pit, that is to say when the elements are in the positions shown in Fig. l of the drawings. Should this positioning of the exit opening over the pit not be brought about by the person arriving at the outlet of the chute, the next person, in sliding down the chute, causes the outlet of the chute to overhang the pit, when the person already at the bottom of the chute is discharged into the pit. It is to be observed that there isno necessary relation between the rate of rotation of the chute and the movement of'one sliding down the chute, as the chute is occupant-propelled. The chute has therefore a, rate of movement varying with the weight of the occupant or occupants and inversely with the rate of movement of such persons in the chute.

The small platform 82 is provided for an attendant, who takes care that persons mount the slide 31 only when the inlet to the chute is in alignment with the said slide.

What I claim is 1. An amusement device comprising a support, a body rotatably mounted upon said support adjacent its upper end, a circular track surrounding said support adjacent its lower end, bearings carried by said rotatable body, an inclined shaft rotatably mounted in said bearings carrying upon its lower end a roller running on said track, the upper end of said shaft being nearer to the axis of rotation of said body than said roller, and a helical chute fixed to said shaft having an inlet adjacent said rotatable body and an outlet in proximity of said roller.

2. An amusement device comprising a base provided with a .pit in the form of an inverted cone, a newel rising from the pit .in said base, a platform on said newel, a stair leading from the lower end of said newel to said platform, a body rotatably mounted on said newel above said platform, a circular track on said base surrounding the edge of said pit, bearings carried by said rotatable body, an inclined shaft rotatably mounted in said bearings carrying upon its lower end a roller running on said track, the upper end of said shaft being nearer to the axis of rotation of said body than said roller, and a helical chute fixed to said shafthaving an inlet adjacent said platform and an outlet adapted to overhang said pit.

Signed at New York, in the county of New York and State of New York, this 20th day of October, A. D, 1921. Y

, LEO ROZIGER. 

